Why is Mark Ballas trending today?
Mark Ballas is trending after married ex-'Dancing With the Stars' contestants Alexa and Carlos PenaVega revealed their 2015 season was marred by a feud between Ballas and fellow pro Witney Carson. The dancers allegedly refused to be in the same room, disrupting the couple's experience.
What happened
- 2015
Alexa and Carlos PenaVega compete as first married couple on 'DWTS' Season 21 with pro partners Mark Ballas and Witney Carson. Tension arises as Ballas and Carson feud, refusing to be in the same room. [1]
- 22 Oct 2026
PenaVegas reveal DWTS feud and marriage strain on their 'LexLos' podcast. [1][2]
- 27 Oct 2026
Media outlets report on PenaVegas' podcast revelations. [1][2]
What you need to know
Ballas and Carson's feud forced Alexa and Carlos to rehearse separately, undermining their goal of sharing the experience. [1]
Carlos' competitiveness and jealousy toward Alexa's partnership with Ballas added personal strain. [2]
Alexa apologized to Ballas via the podcast for prioritizing Carlos' feelings over their dance partnership. [2]
No responses from Ballas, Carson, or DWTS producers regarding the allegations have been reported.
Background
Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) is a long-running competitive dance show where celebrities partner with professional dancers.
In 2015, Alexa and Carlos PenaVega made history as the first married couple to compete against each other. They partnered with Mark Ballas and Witney Carson respectively.
Both pros have continued on DWTS: Carson won Season 34 (2025), while Ballas remains competing in Season 35 (2026).
Questions people ask
Why are the PenaVegas speaking out now?
They reflected on the experience a decade later on their podcast, stating their relationship is now strong enough to discuss the challenges. [2]
How did the feud affect the competition?
Alexa and Carlos had to rehearse separately despite wanting to share the experience. They placed 6th and 4th respectively. [1]
What's happening with Ballas and Carson now?
Both returned for DWTS Season 35. Carson was eliminated in 2026; Ballas remains in the competition. [1]
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.